Orange City Iowa — Top ranked Western Christian earned a return trip to the State Boys Basketball tournament with an 87-79 Substate win over Sioux Center Saturday night at the MOC Floyd Valley High School Gym.
A 15 point third quarter by the Wolfpack’s Jesse Jansma jump started the offence as a 36-36 halftime tie turned into a 61-48 Wolfpack lead at the end of the third quarter. In the fourth quarter Sioux Center hit a barrage of threes to pull with 6 points late in the game. With the Warriors forced to foul Western nailed down the win at the free throw line.
Jansma led all scorers with 26 points. Ben Geesink added 18 with Josh Van Lingen hitting for 15 and Taylor Miedema hitting for 13.
Sioux Center had three players in double figures with Marcus Winterfeld leading the way with 22 points. Tyus Arends hit for 19 and Tyler Van Beek added a dozen. In the fourth quarter it was a pair of threes from Winterfeld and Arends along with a three from Cade Bleeker that got the Warriors back within striking distance. 17 fourth quarter free throws from Western Christian would be the difference as they got the win 87-79.
With the win Western is State Tournament bound at 22-2. Sioux Center ends the year at 16-8.
